Tag Archives: Q Theatre

Being heralded as the UK’s answer to Chris Rock, our expectations for Dane’s debut NZ show were high …and he didn’t disappoint.

Gracing the stage to Stormzy, Dane opened his sermon by stating he likes to educate; not just entertain. He then divulged into growing up black in a Catholic household. What followed was an hour of side splitting comedy of observations that contribute to not living in an equal society.

Dane compared the double standards of gender neutrality, fair trade chocolate, and foodies. He also deeply analysed growing up to TLC’s 90’s chart topping single, No Scrubs and how it contributed to a lack of getting girls.

Dane has a unique talent for delivering punchlines and relating to the audience, a talent which only a select group of comedians have mastered. I’d say that he’s my generation’s answer to Eddie Murphy in his prime.

A pleasant hour of orchestrated confusion sums up Alexis Dubus verses the world.

Dressed in a velour suit and armed with a miniature ukulele, Dubus started the show with his song, ‘Versus the World’. A fitting theme song for an hour filled with poems, spoken word, song, and witty humour, all performed in a variety of styles.

An ode to Grain Waves, a hatred of Bananas, and To be a Comic, were just some of the poems recited during the show. Dubus played a subdued, graceful character on stage; a stark contrast to his alter-ego, Marcel Lucont.

His poetic stories were clearly inspired by his travels as comic; often grounded and of low-status. His poem, ‘To be a Comic’, was a reflective piece revealing the truth behind making it as a comic, the polar opposite of the perceived glitz and glamour of show business. And his stories of staying in a hostel in Perth revealed the realities of his life on the road.

A special mention must be made of his performance of Never confuse Shampoo with Champagne, it was one even Sinatra would be proud of!

Like a box of chocolates, there’s always a selection that isn’t as good as the others. The show delivered but there were aspects that didn’t work for me. However, the tone and laughs were consistent throughout.

Alexis Dubus is an elegant wordsmith and a master at manipulating the English language. The orchestrated confusion made it a pleasant show to watch.

Aussie duo, The Umbilical Brothers, return to New Zealand with their latest live show, Not Suitable for Children. Inspired by that time they created a kids TV show for the Sesame Workshop in the US; the show is packed with violence, sexual references, innuendos, coarse language, and maybe some face painting…. And you guessed it, it’s most definitely, Not Suitable for Children! We chat to them ahead of their shows.

Describe your show in three words or less..
Fry your brain

What’s the inspiration behind it?
We made a kids’ TV show for Sesame Workshop in the US. All the while our comedy brains were thinking about things that could go wrong. The result is a really wrong live kids’ show – so wrong that it’s not for kids.

Where will we find you during the festival?
Hopefully nowhere near children. That came out wrong…I mean no kids should see this show. Apart from that, we’ll probably hang around a lot at the classic, failing to be as cool as the stand-up comics.

NZ Comedy Scene – would you swipe right or swipe left?
Which is the good one? Look, we wouldn’t dare take any kind of swipe at NZ comedy. You’re the only ones qualified to swipe, even if it is incestuous.

Do you have any top picks for this year’s festival?
Luke Heggie, Urzila Carlson, Jimmy McGhie, Guy Montgomery, Aunty Donna, any act you’ve never heard of (it’s important to try new things), and if you’ve got any time or money left – us.

What song or movie best describes the story of your life?
Stuck in the Middle With You

What are you currently binge-watching on Netflix?
A screen showing the words “You do not have access to this service”

He’s young, he’s gay, and he’s a two-time (2016 & 2018) nominee of the prestigious Billy T Awards. James Malcolm, the self-proclaimed Taylor Swift of the NZ Comedy Scene (they both write about their ex-boyfriends!) brings his show, Fameless to this year’s NZ International Comedy Festival. Expect a detailed account of his quest to become famous, including the sexapades along the way.

Describe your show in three words or less…
Wannabe Gay Icon

What’s the inspiration behind it?
I’m very, very thirsty and want to become famous, but I’m stuck on the cusp where I get all of the creepy stalkers and none of the glory. The show is all about my journey so far trying to become a celebrity, and also about my sex life, because that’s just kind of what I do.

Where will we find you during the festival?
I’ll be at Q Theatre Vault in Auckland, 7pm, 15-19th May. Te Auaha in Wellington, 8:45pm, 1-5th May.

NZ Comedy Scene – who would you swipe right or swipe left?
I would swipe right for James Roque, Guy Montgomery, Paul Williams and David Correos with his new hot bod and swipe left for everyone else (sorry ladies)

Do you have any top picks for this year’s festival?
My gay baes: James Mustapic (Mildly Wild), Eli Matthewson (An Inconvenient Poof), Chris Parker (Camp Binch), Tom Sainsbury (Self Helped) – we should start a boyband to be completely honest.

What song or movie best describes the story of your life?
The movie Chicago has nothing to do with my life, except that I am the male version of Roxy Hart and could totally see myself getting in her situation.

What are you currently binge-watching on Netflix?
I’m re-watching Please Like Me for the 3rd time in a row, it is exactly the kind of TV show I dream of making one day.

If you didn’t have to sleep, what would you do with the extra time?
I would probably spend a large chunk of the time watching ‘Best of Aja’ compilations on YouTube and thinking about how she should have won RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 3.

Award-winning British comedian, Sarah Callaghan is making her way to New Zealand for the first time this NZ International Comedy Festival. A true powerhouse in comedy and poetry, her show promises an hour filled with laughs about gangs, fitting right in and feeling left out.

Describe your show in three words or less..
Very fucking good.

What’s the inspiration behind it?
The world is fucked, and people are becoming more and more segregated and I’m just calling out the bullshit whilst reflecting on my own passions and life. I’m trying to do something different this year as well as it being a very funny and heartfelt show.

Where will we find you during the festival?
Eating or sleeping.

NZ Comedy Scene – would you swipe right or swipe left?
I have never been but heard it’s pretty sexy so I’d give it a ‘super like’. #cometomyfuckingshow

Do you have any top picks for this year’s festival?
I like Rhys Nicholson’s stuff. He makes me laugh a lot! But he’s doing pretty well at the moment so just come to my show instead. My show is my top pick.

What song or movie best describes the story of your life?
The opening scene of Saving Private Ryan.

What are you currently binge-watching on Netflix?
Ricky Gervais’ show Humanity. I saw it live at The Hammersmith Apollo in London too – it was incredible.

Like so many other Asian children before him, James Roque is a disappointment to his parents. He followed his dreams instead of following the path to become a respected M.D (Doctor of Medicine). Despite that, he has a career to boast about; since making his NZ International Comedy Festival debut in 2013, he’s gone on to perform at every festival since (including his acclaimed and sold out 2017 show), he’s appeared on television, including Three’s 7 Days and Jono and Ben, and he’s a co-founder of Proudly Asian Theatre – a theatre company dedicated to showcasing more Asian-NZ stores on stage. And if that wasn’t enough, he played the lead role in Indian Ink Theatre’s Kiss the Fish, which has toured New Zealand ad USA. So what if he’s not a doctor; they say that laughter is the best medicine.

We caught up with James ahead of his 2018 NZICF season.

Describe your show in three words or less..
Dope Filipino dude.

What’s the inspiration behind it?
Last year I started pronouncing my Filipino last name correctly for the first time in 17 years and it’s got me thinking about what the immigrant experience is like in the western world.

Where will we find you during the festival?
Out here following my dreams

NZ Comedy Scene – would you swipe right or swipe left?
Are you asking me if I want to have sex with the entire NZ Comedy industry? How do we even go about that? Seems like a logistical nightmare.

Do you have any top picks for this year’s festival?
I’m really excited to see Rose Matafeo’s new show. Her last show was my favourite thing in the festival last year, so I’m keen to see what she’s got next. Also, hype for Rhys Nicholson and Phil Wang.

What song or movie best describes the story of your life?
The scene from 8 Mile when he vomits his mum’s spaghetti before the battle

James Roque performs 1 – 5 May at Wellington’s The Fringe Bar and 8 – 12 May at Auckland’s Q Theatre with his solo show. He also performs with Frickin Dangerous Bro 2 – 5 May at Wellington’s BATS Theatre, and 9 – 12 May at Auckland’s Q Theatre. All as part of the NZ International Comedy Festival with Best Foods Mayo. Buy your tickets – Legal Alien | Humble.

Like a good Sauvignon, Marcel Lucont is crisp, dry, and French. A figurehead of the NZ International Comedy Festival, Marcel is returning to our shores with two shows this year. For one night only, Marcel will perform his sold-out 2016 hit show Whine list – where he blends his sarcastic wit, poems and storytelling with gallic, deadpan delivery (read our 2016 review). He’ll also have a longer run of his new show, Marcel Lucont Etc., a chat show in which the multi-award deserving flâneur will interview different guests, every night. The show promises classy poetry, music, and bawdy badinage!

We were fortunate enough to get 5 minutes with Marcel ahead of his return to New Zealand.

Describe your show in three words or less..
Marcel Lucont Etc.

What’s the inspiration behind it?
While my talents cannot be bettered, they can certainly be complimented, by working with a live band (live is always preferable to the alternative). Also, by inviting lesser acts from the festival on the show as guests I get to highlight not only my superiority, but also my altruism.

Where will we find you during the festival?
At The Loft at Q Theatre (Auckland) May 2-5 and San Fran (Wellington) May 8,9 and 11. I shall also be resurrecting Marcel Lucont’s Whine List for one night at Rangatira at Q Theatre (Auckland) May 1.

NZ Comedy Scene – would you swipe right or swipe left?
It depends on which door they are blocking and where I need to be.

Do you have any top picks for this year’s festival?
If you cannot make Marcel Lucont’s Whine List I would highly recommend Marcel Lucont Etc.

What song or movie best describes the story of your life?
“Je M’Appelle Marcel,” not only the opening song from Marcel Lucont Etc., but also from my latest album, “Flâneur, Raconteur, Bon-Viveur,” most certainly available for purchase after the show.

What are you currently binge-watching on Netflix?
Both of these are alien concepts to me. I am currently “binge-living” in “reality.”

And your top 3 songs on Spotify?
Again, I feel this questionnaire is not fully bespoke to me. Come to me when we are talking of records on a record player.

If you didn’t have to sleep, what would you do with the extra time?
Smoke enough opium to drift off to sleep.

Marcel Lucont performs Whine List 1 May at Auckland’s Q Theatre. He also performs Marcel Lucont Etc. 2 – 5 May at Auckland’s Q Theatre, and 8 – 11 May at Wellington’s San Fran as part of the NZ International Comedy Festival with Best Foods Mayo. Buy your tickets to Whine list here and Marcel Lucont Etc. here.

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